The Worldwide Cricket Council’s (ICC) Champions Trophy begins in Pakistan on February 19.
This version comes after an eight-year hole for the reason that match was final staged in 2017, when Pakistan lifted the trophy in England.
The Champions Trophy options the highest eight males’s one-day worldwide (ODI) groups and lots of the finest gamers in world cricket will participate within the 50-over format.
Al Jazeera Sport has picked the highest 5 gamers – drawn from the 4 favourites to win the trophy – to look out for this time round.
Babar Azam (Pakistan)
Babar, a former Pakistan captain, presently tops the ICC’s ODI batting rankings and will probably be thought to be host nation’s finest hope in racking up match-winning totals.
The 30-year-old made his worldwide debut in 2015 and has a formidable 19 centuries and 34 fifties from 122 profession ODI innings.
Azam averages 55.98 within the format – greater than 13 away from his Check common.
The proper-hander resigned as Pakistan’s white-ball cricket captain for a second time in 11 months in October 2024, having additionally relinquished the Check and T20 captaincies concurrently the earlier yr, however Babar stays the inspirational figurehead of the aspect.
Shubman Gill (India)
In a aspect led by ageing superstars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, and with India thought to be the clear favourites to win the trophy, Shubman Gill’s inclusion in our high 5 didn’t come calmly.
Gill, 25, has shortly change into the poster boy for Indian cricket – each on and off the sector – with what seems to be as pure a expertise in entrance of a digital camera as he has with a bat in his hand.
Gill has solely dropped under fifty in certainly one of his final 4 innings coming into the match and went on to attain a century on two of these events, together with within the ultimate match of the pre-tournament collection in opposition to England.
Seven centuries and 15 fifties in 50 ODI innings have helped the highest order star produce an excellent common of 60.16.
Jos Buttler (England)
England discover themselves third favourites to win the match regardless of a wretched white-ball run that has seen them slip to seventh within the ODI rankings, whereas their T20 type lately has additionally slid alarmingly.
If England are to supply the products in Pakistan then an ideal deal will relaxation on their captain Jos Buttler, who’s revered as a lot for his management as his efficiency with the bat.
The 34-year-old was Eoin Morgan’s vice-captain when England gained the 2019 Cricket World Cup, and was, due to this fact, the pure substitute for a participant thought to be certainly one of cricket’s best leaders.
Lifting England from their woes of their white-ball tour of India in January and February, which resulted in a win in each collection for the hosts – and a clear sweep for the ODIs – will probably be excessive on the record of Buttler’s priorities.
The proper-hand veteran has registered 11 centuries and 27 fifties, at a median of 39.33, in 157 innings.
Glenn Maxwell (Australia)
At 36 years of age, Maxwell stays certainly one of Australia’s key gamers and is a confirmed finisher – or rescuer – within the center order.
Solely 15 months in the past, the right-hander hit an unbelievable 201 not out, whereas critically hampered by harm, to show the match in opposition to Afghanistan as a part of his aspect’s journey to successful the 2023 Cricket World Cup.
A veteran of the Indian Premier League, having performed 134 matches for 3 of their franchises, Maxwell made his debut for Australia in 2012 and has been an everyday in each white-ball codecs ever since.
Though not in a position to maintain down a spot within the Check group, the place he gained the final of his seven caps in 2017, Maxwell is an iconic determine in Australian sport on account of his means to single-handedly take down an opponent together with his revolutionary batting model.
As well as, Maxwell’s off-break bowling is greater than a helpful second string with 75 ODI wickets at an economic system of 5.43, however it’s his strike price of 123 with the bat within the ODI format that instils true concern into these working into bowl to the participant nicknamed “The Huge Present”.
Shaheen Shah Afridi (Pakistan)
One other former Pakistan captain – as with Babar – and equally a key participant for his nation, Shaheen will lead the bowling assault for the host nation.
Nonetheless solely 24 years of age, the left-arm seamer has the flexibility to blast by way of the highest, center and backside order of any aspect on the earth.
A transparent match-winner at any given second and on any floor, the Khyber-born fast made his Pakistan debut in all codecs in 2018 and rose to the function of captain, albeit prematurely in hindsight, final yr.
He has already registered 124 ODI wickets in solely 60 matches and is the one seam bowler – in fourth place – within the high 5 of the ICC’s rating of ODI bowlers.
Each Shaheen and Babar have the flexibility to win matches on their very own – if the pair are each on hearth on the match, Pakistan could properly retain the trophy in entrance of their residence crowd.
